The cyber crime branch of Ahmedabad Police has uncovered a large cross-border fraud, arresting two men accused of supplying thousands of SIM cards to a Chinese cyber gang running “digital arrest” rackets.
The arrested individuals were already serving time in Madhya Pradesh for similar offences. They allegedly created fake companies to secure SIM cards, which were later used by fraudsters to extort money from victims. One such case involved an Ahmedabad resident who was cheated of Rs 86.22 lakh after being falsely accused of money laundering by scammers posing as police officers.
The victim was sent a fake Supreme Court summons, monitored round the clock through continuous video calls, and repeatedly threatened with arrest unless he transferred his money. The fraud came to light when the victim reported the incident in June.
Based on human intelligence and technical analysis, investigators exposed a large SIM card racket. Police identified Rishabh Bhalchand Hasurkar, a robotics engineering graduate, and Suresh Rajubhai Gudimini as the masterminds. Both men were taken into custody from Panna District Jail in Madhya Pradesh, where they were already imprisoned for another cyber fraud.
According to the cybercrime unit, the gang’s method involved calling victims from untraceable numbers, posing as law enforcement officials, and claiming that the victims’ bank accounts were connected to money laundering activities.
“Victims were told they would be arrested under money laundering charges, sent fake Supreme Court warrants on WhatsApp, and kept under surveillance through continuous video calls. Under fear, they were forced to transfer large sums, which were never returned,” the cybercrime press note said.
Investigations revealed that the accused had set up three bogus firms: Star Multi Solution, Hasurkar Ventures Pvt Ltd, and Heiqian Multi Management Pvt Ltd. Through these shell companies, they procured around 550 SIM cards, reactivated blacklisted numbers, and supplied a total of 2,500 SIMs to an agent named H.R. Danny at Mumbai International Airport. These cards were eventually handed over to Chinese cyber gangs, who used them to digitally “arrest” victims and pressure them into transferring money.
The scam extended beyond Gujarat, with cases also registered against the duo in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra under the IT Act and various sections of the IPC for cheating and forgery.
While the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in dismantling a multi-crore cyber fraud network, authorities cautioned that several operatives, including Chinese handlers and local collaborators, remain at large.
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